Some 600 ‘persons of interest’ have been examined and thousands of so-called sightings of Madeleine have been assessed, in Brazil, India, Morocco and Paraguay, on a German plane and in a New Zealand supermarket.

Since her disappearance, Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry McCann have dedicated themselves to finding their daughter.

The couple, from Rothley, Leicestershire, are said to be ‘incredibly grateful’ to the Home Office for approving Scotland Yard’s latest funding request.

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Family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said:

They are very encouraged that the Met Police still believe there is work left to be done and they are incredibly grateful to the Home Office for providing an extra budget for the investigation.

It gives them hope that one day they may finally find out what happened to their daughter.

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The family said they would ‘never give up’ on the Find Madeleine Facebook page last Christmas:

We just wanted to pass on our love and thanks to everyone who has continued to support us throughout another year.

Friendship, solidarity and warm wishes go a long way in giving us the strength to get through and make the very best of it.

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Government funding for the investigation – one of the most high profile and expensive in history – is usually agreed every six months, and the £154,000 which was granted in October last year is due to run out in just five days.

Operation Grange was launched under David Cameron after the Portuguese investigation of Madeleine’s disappearance was criticised by the British authorities as being not fit for purpose.

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Other investigators have come forward in the previous months to weigh in on the McCann’s personal trauma.